GLP-1 Medications Explained: What You Should Know

Updated on Sep 1, 2026 | Diabetes, Endocrinology, Featured, Heart Health, Popular, Vascular Health, Your Health

GLP-1 medications are now a major topic in health care and the news. These drugs can help people manage type 2 diabetes and lose weight. Researchers are also studying how they may help with other health problems.

What are GLP-1 medications? How do they work? What should you know about their benefits, side effects, and risks?

Reshmi Srinath, MD, Director of the Mount Sinai Weight and Metabolism Management Program, explains the basics of GLP-1 medications.

What are GLP-1 medications?

GLP-1 medications act like a natural hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1, or GLP-1.

The small intestine releases GLP-1. This hormone helps control blood sugar. It also helps people feel full after eating.

Researchers began studying gut hormones many years ago. They found that natural GLP-1 breaks down fast in the body. They later made forms that last longer and can be used as drugs.

Most GLP-1 drugs are peptides. Peptides are made from the same building blocks as proteins. Some newer drugs are not peptides. They can still target the same GLP-1 receptor in the body.

Reshmi Srinath, MD, Director of the Mount Sinai Weight and Metabolism Management Program

How do GLP-1 medications work?

GLP-1 medications affect several parts of the body. They can help:

  • Manage blood sugar: GLP-1 affects the pancreas and liver. Both help control blood sugar.
  • Help you feel full: The drugs can help people feel full after eating.
  • Slow digestion: The drugs slow the speed at which food moves through the digestive system.
  • Support weight loss: Feeling full longer can help people eat less and lose weight.

The first GLP-1 drugs were mainly used for type 2 diabetes. Doctors then noticed that with improvement in diabetes that many patients also lost weight.

Researchers are now studying other ways these drugs may help with other chronic health conditions, says Dr. Srinath.

What are the approved uses of GLP-1 medications?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved GLP-1 medications for these uses:

  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Obesity and weight management
  • Obstructive sleep apnea
  • Heart disease
  • Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), a form of liver disease
  • Reducing certain heart and kidney risks in people with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease

Some GLP-1 drugs are shots, and some are pills. Not every drug is approved for every use. The table below lists approved drugs, key brand names, and uses*.

Active ingredient Key brand names FDA-approved uses
Semaglutide Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus Type 2 diabetes; weight management; heart and kidney risk reduction; MASH
Tirzepatide Mounjaro, Zepbound Type 2 diabetes; weight management; obstructive sleep apnea; heart risk reduction
Liraglutide Victoza, Saxenda Type 2 diabetes; weight management; heart risk reduction
Dulaglutide Trulicity Type 2 diabetes; heart risk reduction
Orforglipron Foundayo Weight management

*Information accurate as of September 1, 2026.

What other uses are being studied?

Scientists are studying whether GLP-1 drugs may help with other health problems. Research includes:

  • Osteoarthritis
  • Autoimmune diseases, including some skin conditions
  • Cancer
  • Brain conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia

Why might one type of drug affect so many parts of the body? “There may not be one simple answer,” says Dr. Srinath.

Weight loss can improve some long-term health problems. Researchers are also studying how GLP-1 drugs may affect inflammation. Inflammation plays a role in many long-term diseases.

Scientists may find more ways these drugs can help. But more research is needed. We do not yet know if they are safe and effective for these other uses.

What are the most common GLP-1 side effects?

The most common side effects affect the digestive system. They include:

  • Nausea
  • Acid reflux
  • Constipation

Side effects may start soon after treatment begins. They often get better as the body gets used to the drug.

Side effects may come back when the dose goes up, says Dr. Srinath. Talk to your health care provider if they do not go away or worry you.

Are GLP-1 medications safe long term?

“GLP-1 medications are not brand-new drugs,” says Dr. Srinath.

These drugs have been used for diabetes for many years. Thousands of patients have also taken part in studies. Doctors have a large amount of information about their safety and side effects.

Still, newer GLP-1 drugs do not have decades of safety data. Researchers continue to study their long-term effects as more people use them.

Dr. Srinath says more long-term safety data is still needed. For now, she says the evidence is reassuring and the benefits outweigh any risks.

What are common concerns about GLP-1 medications?

As these drugs have become more popular, people have asked more questions about their effects. Here is what we know about some common concerns.

Are GLP-1 medications a “magic” weight-loss drug?

No. GLP-1 drugs can be strong tools, but a healthy lifestyle is also important, says Dr. Srinath.

Healthy eating and exercise still matter. Dr. Srinath recommends enough protein, fiber, and water each day. Limiting highly processed foods, sugary drinks, and alcohol can also help.

The drugs also do not work the same for everyone. Some people in clinical trials did not get the same results as others. GLP-1 drugs are not a guaranteed solution, says Dr. Srinath.

Do GLP-1 medications cause muscle loss?

Muscle loss is a common concern, especially when these drugs are used for weight loss.

“The bottom line is this: You are going to lose muscle no matter how you lose weight,” says Dr. Srinath.

About one-quarter of the weight a person loses may be muscle, while most of the rest is fat, says Dr. Srinath. She notes that muscle loss can happen with any type of weight loss, not just with GLP-1 medications.

Researchers are still studying what this muscle loss may mean. They do not yet know if it affects strength or how well a person can move.

For now, Dr. Srinath recommends staying active. She also recommends exercises that build and keep muscle. Getting enough protein is important too.

Can GLP-1 medications damage the heart?

Current data does not show that GLP-1 drugs damage heart muscle. In fact, some GLP-1 drugs have shown benefits for the heart, says Dr. Srinath.

Research is still underway. But current evidence does not suggest that muscle loss from these drugs weakens the heart.

Can GLP-1 medications affect your eyes?

Some studies have found a possible link to a rare eye problem. This problem affects blood flow to the optic nerve.

“That is an area of ongoing research, and while it is such a low risk, it is something I do tell patients about,” says Dr. Srinath. “I do think the benefits here outweigh any eye risks, though.”

Talk to your health care provider if you notice changes in your vision. You may also need to see an eye doctor.

Do not ignore new vision problems. Do not stop a prescribed drug before you talk to your health care provider.

What are compounded GLP-1 medications?

Some people use compounded GLP-1 drugs. These drugs may cost less and may be easier to get. They are often sold through compounding pharmacies and online health services.

Compounding pharmacies make drugs for individual patients. They do not supply the finished drug made by the original drug maker.

Compounded GLP-1 drugs are not the same as FDA-approved brand-name drugs, says Dr. Srinath. They do not go through the same FDA review for safety, quality, and how well they work.

Concerns about compounded GLP-1 drugs include:

  • The amount of active drug in a dose
  • The strength of the drug
  • Added ingredients, such as preservatives, vitamins, or supplements
  • Differences in quality between pharmacies

Dr. Srinath says some patients have received doses that were too strong or not strong enough. She says it can be hard to know how safe or effective a specific compounded drug may be.

Dr. Srinath recommends FDA-approved brand-name drugs when possible.

Cost and insurance coverage can make these drugs hard to get. This can lead some people to seek compounded drugs instead.

If you use a compounded GLP-1 drug, Dr. Srinath recommends care from a health care provider. This may be an endocrinologist, a weight management specialist, or a primary care provider.

Questions about GLP-1 medication? Schedule an appointment with a doctor

“Like Turning Off a Light Switch”: Signs and Symptoms of Stroke

Updated on May 22, 2024 | Cardiology, Neurology, Vascular Health, Your Health

Slurred speech, an impaired gait, paralysis on one side of the face, arm, and/or leg—these are all signs of a stroke, especially if they appear suddenly. If you believe you or someone else is experiencing a stroke, call 911 immediately. Strokes are an emergency, and waiting can result in serious brain injury and even death.

Carolyn Brockington, MD

In this Q&A, Carolyn Brockington, MD, Director of the Stroke Center at Mount Sinai West and Mount Sinai Morningside, and Assistant Professor of Neurology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, discusses the signs and symptoms of a stroke, the difference between a stroke and a mini stroke, and why you must act fast.

What is a stroke?                                                                                                         

Simply put, stroke is an injury to the brain caused by a reduction of blood flow—for example, a blood vessel is blocked by a blood clot. Strokes are an emergency because there is a restricted time period—just a few hours—for people to come in for treatment, where doctors can try to administer certain therapies to improve blood flow in order for the affected part of the brain not to be injured.

What are the signs and symptoms?

The signs and symptoms from stroke have to do with how the brain is organized. Primarily, the left side of the brain controls the right side of the body, and the right side controls the left. Let’s say somebody is not getting enough blood flow on the left side of the brain, depending on the part of the brain affected, they might develop right-sided weakness or right-sided numbness, or difficulty speaking, or difficulty understanding speech, etc. If someone has a stroke on the left side of the brain in the back, they may have vision problems but they’ll be able to walk around and speak. If they have a stroke towards the front of the brain, they might have more of a language problem but no vision disturbance. While it’s very hard to tell people exactly what type of symptoms they would have, the appropriate thing is to understand that the symptoms are sudden, like turning off a light switch. Pay attention to balance, eyesight, face asymmetry, arm or leg movement, speech or language.

Who is most at risk?

Everyone is at risk for stroke. Most people think you only have to worry about stroke when you are old. The truth is that the incidence of stroke increases as we get older, because some of the risk factors or the medical conditions that we know that increase stroke increase over time—high blood pressure (hypertension), diabetes, heart disease, elevated cholesterol, etc. However, the most important thing to understand is that anybody can have a stroke at any age. The fact that stroke risks increase with age doesn’t mean it can only happen when you get older. There are different reasons people might have a stroke at different ages.

If I think I or someone else is having a stroke, what should I do?

If you or someone else is having a stroke, time is ticking, so call 911. As doctors, we say “time is brain,” meaning every minute that goes by it has been estimated that approximately 1.9 million brain cells are potentially dying. Emergency Medical Services will dispatch the ambulance, which will take you to the closest designated stroke center that has the ability to assess you in a timely fashion and provide the appropriate treatments. At the Mount Sinai Health System, all of our eight hospitals have been designated as certified stroke centers, meaning that we all have multidisciplinary teams to provide the appropriate therapy within the clinical guidelines for the acute treatment of stroke.

How will I be treated for an acute stroke?

Once you are in the emergency room, there is a lot that needs to be done in a very short period of time to make sure you are eligible for acute stoke treatment, including brain imaging and blood tests, etc. Afterwards, we may be able to administer certain therapies, for selected patients, within what we call the “therapeutic window.”

For example, for acute stroke, there’s treatment we give intravenously through the IV in the emergency department. If there is a big blockage of a blood vessel, we might be able go in and pull that clot out. The time period for the intravenous therapy is within three hours of symptom onset, and for some people we can extend it to four and a half hours. People who receive treatment earlier typically do better.

Am I having a stroke?

It’s important for everyone of all ages to know the signs and symptoms of a stroke.  F.A.S.T and B.E.F.A.S.T, acronyms used by many medical and health organizations, including the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association, can help you quickly spot the common signs and symptoms of stroke.

B is for sudden loss of balance. Your gait is suddenly off balance, as if drunk or suddenly dizzy.
E is for sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes. You may also see double.
F is for an uneven face. You are experiencing sudden facial weakness or numbness on one side.
A is for arms or leg weakness. You can’t outstretch your arm or leg or keep it up, and there is a sudden weakness and/or numbness on one side of your body.
S is for slurred speech. Aside from slurred speech, you may not be able find the right words, or may have trouble understanding others.
T is for time. “Time is brain.” Don’t wait and hope symptoms go away—call 911.

Want to learn more about the warning signs of a stroke? Check out this interactive F.A.S.T. guide from the American Stroke Association.

Hispanohablantes: ¿Crees que alguien está sufriendo un derrame cerebral? Sea R.Á.P.I.D.O.

What’s the difference between a stroke and a mini stroke?

When people say “mini stroke,” they mean a transient ischemic attack, or TIA. “Transient” means brief; “ischemia” means reduction in blood flow; and “attack” means an event that is a shorter period of time where not enough blood gets to the brain and causes symptoms. An example might be that somebody is walking down the street, and suddenly, they feel their left arm and leg is heavy. They are having difficulty moving, they may have some difficulty walking, and then a few minutes later it goes away. Both stroke and TIAs are caused by an interruption of blood flow to the brain. The big distinction is that the TIA is a shorter period of time where not enough blood gets to the brain, so it doesn’t cause a permanent injury.

What should I do if I think I had a TIA?

Even if the symptoms resolve, a TIA is an emergency. Even though a TIA doesn’t result in an injury to your brain, we need to identify the cause. TIAs are warning signs that a stroke may be looming. If we can find that you have an artery narrowing or problems with your heart or your blood or blood pressure etc, that gives us the opportunity to try to address the issue before you have a stroke. TIAs and stroke are both considered emergencies and require fast treatment.

How can I decrease my risk for having a stroke?

There are a lot of risk factors for stroke, both modifiable and nonmodifiable. Nonmodifiable risk factors include age and family history of stroke. Modifiable risk factors include high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes. Hypertension (high blood pressure) is the number one reason why people have stroke and heart disease. The identification of high blood pressure, and modifying it, usually through adopting a healthier diet, regular activity, and sometimes medication, is important. Speaking to your doctor about your risks provides an opportunity to modify or control risks better long-term to reduce your chances of having a stroke.

How to tell if someone could be having a stroke

Remember the B.E.F.A.S.T. acronym:

  • You notice they are suddenly acting or walking as if drunk or dizzy, but they have not had anything to drink
  • You ask them to smile, and their face is asymmetrical
  • Their speech is slurred or they are unable to find the right words, or they seem confused and have trouble understanding you
  • They have difficulty maintaining or are unable to lift their arms or legs
  • They have double or blurred vision

If you notice any of the above, call 911 immediately.

How will having a stroke affect me?

Many individuals recover well after a stroke, and enjoy a good quality of life. The challenge is that certain types of stroke have the potential of causing significant neurological impairment, which highlights the need for prompt identification of stroke symptoms and treatment. If you think having a stroke is inevitable, you are wrong—there are many things you can do to reduce the chance of it happening. However, it starts with partnering with your primary care physician to discuss your particular risk factors and determine what you can do to modify your risks—not just today, but long-term—to reduce your risk of stroke and maintain good brain health.

Have you or someone you love experienced a stroke? Learn about Mount Sinai’s services and therapies that can help

Chronic Venous Insufficiency: The Basics

Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Geriatrics, Health Tips, Vascular Health

By Jeffrey M. Levine, MD, and Michael Cioroiu, MD, FACS

Up to 40 percent of women and 17 percent of men suffer from chronic venous insufficiency, a condition marked by swollen ankles, and feelings of leg tightness or heavy, tired legs. Chronic venous insufficiency may also be associated with varicose veins, which are swollen, bulging or twisted veins that you can see through the skin. In severe cases, chronic venous insufficiency can lead to non-healing leg ulcers. (more…)

What is Sleep Apnea?

Mar 17, 2014 | Health Tips, Pulmonary Disease, Vascular Health

Sleep apnea is a nighttime event during which a person will repeatedly stop and start breathing while asleep, causing the level of oxygen in the blood to drop, as well as waking the body and disturbing healthy sleep. Severity of the condition varies from mild to severe, depending on how many times and how low the oxygen level goes down.

(more…)

A National Goal: Improving Cardiovascular Health and Quality of Life

Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Cardiology, Community Outreach, Diabetes, Diet and Nutrition, Health Tips, Heart Disease, Vascular Health

Chronic diseases, such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes, are responsible for seven out of every 10 deaths among Americans each year, and many of the risk factors that contribute to the development of these diseases are preventable. Healthy People 2020, an initiative of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), aims to improve the health of all Americans by providing science-based, 10-year national objectives. (more…)

Can Exercise Replace Drugs?

Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Cardiology, Diabetes, Exercise, Health Tips, Heart Disease, Holistic Health, Integrative Medicine, The Center for Health & Healing, Vascular Health

Can exercise replace drugs? A study recently published in BMJ (formerly the British Medical Journal) asked this question for four chronic conditions: coronary artery disease, pre-diabetes, stroke and heart failure. The study, which included more than 330,000 patients, was a “meta-analyses.” In other words, it compiled data from previously published controlled trials that looked at the effects of exercise or drug therapy on survival for the illnesses in question. (more…)